Monastery of San Paio de Abeleda facts for kids
The Monastery of San Paio de Abeleda is a very old monastery built in the 1100s. It is located near Abeleda in Galicia, Spain. Even though it is mostly in ruins today, it was once a very important place. It became an abbey and stayed active until the 1800s. Around that time, the Spanish government took control of many church properties. Later, in 1872, a famous family called the House of Alba bought the monastery.
Contents
Where is the Monastery?
The Monastery of San Paio de Abeleda is found in a small area called San Paio de Abeleda. This area is part of the town of Castro Caldelas.
Exploring the Church
The church was built in the Romanesque style during the 1100s. It was changed a bit over the years. The church is shaped like a Latin cross, which means it has a long main part and two shorter parts on the sides.
Inside the Church
The main part of the church has one large open space called a nave. This space has three sections. These sections are separated by pointed arches. These arches have special decorations called archivolts. The tops of the columns, called capitals, are decorated with flowers and strange creatures called chimeras. You can still see small bits of the original paint on these capitals, even after hundreds of years!
Changes Over Time
The church was greatly changed in the 1500s. However, one old door from the 1200s or 1300s was kept. The main altar, which is the table where religious services are held, was built in the 1600s.
The Cloister Facade
The front part of the cloister, which is a covered walkway, is built in the Gothic style. It has a beautiful Gothic arch with a special four-leaf design.
Recent Events
Sadly, in 2005, some valuable old items were taken from the monastery. These included some altars and columns from the old cloister.
Image Gallery
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View of San Paio de Abelenda from Santa Tecla
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One of the facades
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Entrance
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de San Paio de Abeleda para niños
